Firefighters saved a man's life after he nearly slept through a fire started by a pan left on the hob.

The man was taken to hospital along with one other male resident after the blaze ignited in a communal kitchen shared by several flats on Stainland Road, West Vale, in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday).

A crew member from West Yorkshire Fire Service told ExaminerLive they had to wake the man, asleep in bed, after being called to the scene shortly before 1am. Another man was also still inside the building when fire services arrived and was led to safety.

Both were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, but luckily were not badly injured.

Stock image of a fire fighter tackling a blaze (Image: Paul Welch)

A crew member for Halifax fire station said: "The fire was in a communal kitchen shared by about five or six flats. Two people were still inside when we arrived. One man was asleep in bed still so we woke him up.

"The other gentleman was led to safety by the fire service.

"Both have gone to hospital with smoke inhalation, but they're not badly injured."

The crew member added: "The fire was started by a pan left on the hob. It just goes as a reminder never to leave food cooking unattended."